Joe Gill, a Highland Falls native and longtime Cornwall resident, was honored with the ‘Printed Word Award’ at the Highland Falls Library on June 4.
The company Gill has served, as vice president and general manager of for decades, The News of the Highlands, Inc., was also recognized.
“The Printed Word Award recognizes exceptional support of our library in the media,” the Friends of the Highland Falls Library wrote in the program for their spring 2017 Gala and Awards Reception. “The Friends are proud to honor a native son. As vice president and general manager of our local paper, Joe has lent his many talents and those of his staff to the creation of materials for all four of our Galas, while also providing excellent year-round coverage of library events, news and announcements.”
Gill, his wife Janet, daughter Stacey, and brother Mike attended the Gala, which was held at the library. About 125 people, including quite a few members of the newspapers’ staff, were in attendance at the event which also honored the West Point-Highland Falls Rotary Club with the library’s ‘Best Friend Award’ for the club’s “unflagging generosity, elbow grease, volunteerism, and more than 40 years of devoted service to the library and our community.” This was the first time an organization had been honored by the Friends of the Library at the Gala.
Accepting the Rotary’s award was President Steve Scott. Many other Rotarians were in attendance at the event.
A third honoree at the Gala was Bob Hilpert, a Westchester attorney, who for many years also operated Foodies, a restaurant in Fort Montgomery.
“An attorney with a passion for elegant cuisine, Bob set a high bar with his catering of Galas 2011-2015,” the program said. “The Friends are happy to salute his generous contributions to our Library.”
Hilpert was unable to attend the party.
Gala chair was Barbara ‘Charlie’ Murphy. Presenting the awards were Friends of the Library co-presidents Angela McLellan and Elaine Dapra. Also speaking briefly at the event were Regina Taylor-Kopald from the library’s Board of Directors and Library Director Suzanne Brahm.
Murphy noted that Brahm is coming upon her retirement in the year ahead, and said most affiliated with the library “are in total denial” and “refuse to believe she will turn in her keys to this corner of heaven”.
Kopald thanked many who work to make the library the successful place that it is — including the staff, the Friends of the Library, Assemblyman James Skoufis, and the Eristoff family.
“All together, they are responsible for making this place as warm and wonderful as it is,” said Kopald.
Kopald also took a moment to praise Brahm for her 32 years of work at the library.
“She has single handedly turned this place from a little brick building into the incredible place we stand in today. Our community thanks you.”
It was noted that the Rotary Club will soon be installing what will be known as the ‘Suzanne Brahm Garden’ on the north side of the library parking lot, in honor of her retirement.
Previous honorees at the Galas include Anne Sidamon-Eristoff, author Reamy Jansen, Julie DeWitt, poet Bill Higgins, Michael Graber, and writer Ronnie Coffey.
Also at the Gala, the library’s newly finished downstairs rooms were on display to those attending.
